Mail-bag fastener



, Paten ted Oct. 11, I898. .1. A. SCHREINER.

MAIL BAG FASTENER.

(Application filed Oct. 15, 1897,

No. 6|2,l43.

(No Model.)

w W o H. o m m 8 p WWW ww wg a M I w ggafig WW in m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. SCIIREINER, OF JOl-INSONBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,143, dated October 11, 1898. Application filed October 15, 1897 Serial No. 655,344. (No model.)

To all whom zlfmay concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. SOHREINER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Johnsonburg, in the county of Elk, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had'therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to mail-bag fasteners, and more particularly to a fastener employing means to lock the slides in their adj usted position and to retain alabelin place.

The invention has for its object to improve the construction of mail-bag fasteners, so that the slides may be operated by the movement of either one of the slides and when in their locked position securely fastened against operation to open the bag.

It has for a further object to provide means for protecting and displaying a label indicating the destination ofthe bag, which means shall be permanently locked or secured in position when the bag is locked.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the mail-bag. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the lower slide. Fig. 3 is a similar View of. the upper slide, which operates in connection with the slide shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line i 4. of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged elevation of a portion of the upper slide. Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of a cover-plate used in connection with the structure shown in Fig. 6.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawlngs.

The letter A designates the body of a mailbag, which may be of any suitable material found convenient in use, and A indicates the flap thereof, which extends from the bag and overlaps the upper portion of the bodyA. Secured to the body A is a series of studs I3, provided with enlarged heads B and secured upon the body by means of a riveting exten- 'over the'heads of the studs B. Secured upon the flaps are two slides O and C of any suitable material, preferably of leather, each of which is provided with a series of keyholeslots C the enlarged end of which is of sufficient size to pass readily over the head B of the stud B. The slots may be of any desired configuration, as is obvious, it being essential, however, that the enlarged end thereof is of sufficient size to pass over the head of the stud B. These slides are superposed upon each other and held together and in contact with the bag by means of securing-clips D, provided with depending ends D. .The lower slide is further provided with a lock E, having therein an aperture E, beneath which may be displayed a label which is affixed to the flap of the bag or located within the lockcasing, as may be desired. This lock operates in connection with a latch-stud E secured to the body of the bag and projecting through an aperture in the flap, so as to engage the lock mechanism within thecase E. Suitably secured to the flapA'is a series of spindles F, which may be riveted thereto, as at F, and upon which are journaled cogwheels G. These cogs are free to rotate upon the spindle and engage rack-bars H, carried by the Slides 0 and C. The rack-bars II are located upon the edge of a recess or opening H, formed in the slides, and may be riveted thereto, as shown in Fig. .6, or' otherwise secured. They are preferably arranged upon opposite sides of the cog or of the aperture H, so that when one slide is moved the cog will be actuated and the other slide moved in the opposite direction. The keyhole-slots G in the slides have their enlarged ends located in opposite directions, so that the movement of one of the slides will move the associate slide in the opposite direction, and thus bring the enlarged ends of the keyhole-slides into register with each other, so that the bolts B may be readily passed therethrough to fasten or unfasten the bag. V g

The upper slide 0 is provided with a slot I, within which will lie a staple or eye J, secured to the slide 0 and which serves to guide the movement of the upper slide and forms a con: venient projection for the manipulation of the slides to lock or unlock the bag. The lock-case E may be riveted or otherwise secured to the lower slide, as shown in the drawings.

For the purpose of holding in position and protecting the cog from injury by dust or dirt I provide a cover-plate K, which is suitably secured to the outer slide 0, as indicated by.

dotted lines in Fig. 6, and is provided with a raised portion K, which will receive the outer end of the spindle F, upon which the cog is mounted. It is also obvious that protectingplates may be applied at other parts of the device and to the edges of the slots in the slides if found desirable, as shown at K Reinforcing-strips may also be used when desired both upon the body and flap of the bag to furnish a body of material to which the parts carried by the bag may be riveted or secured.

From the foregoing description the operation of the bag will be apparent to those skilled in the art, as when the slides are moved so that the enlarged heads of the keyhole-slots are in register with each other the flap and the slides carried thereby may be passed over and beneath the heads 13 of the studs B,

when by the movement of one of the slides the other slide will be moved in an opposite direction, so as to bring the reduced portions of the keyhole-slots beneath the head of the stud B, and thus prevent the movement of the fiap away from the body of the bag. At this time a label may be applied to the flap beneath the aperture E in the lock E and the lock then engaged with the latch-stud E whereby the bag will be securely locked and the label exhibited. It will be seen that this construction enables a workman to lock the bag by the use of one hand, as it is only necessary to move one of the slides and engage the spring-lock carried thereby with the latchstud.

WVhen it is desired to open the bag, the lock will be disengaged from the latch-stud by means of a suitable key and one of the slides shifted, so as to bring the enlarged end of the keyhole-slots into register with each other, when the flap can be opened and the contents of the bag removed. Then the lock is released from the latch-stud,the label within or beneath the same can be removed and replaced, as desired.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction and configuration of the several parts hereinbefore described and illustrated without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a closure provided with a fastening-stud, of oppositely-movable superposed slides each extending substantially the width of the closure, and means whereby the movement of one slide will actuate the other slide in the opposite direction, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a closure provided with a fastening-stud, of oppositely-movable superposed slides each extending substantially the Width of the closure, means whereby the movement of one slide will actuate the other slide in the opposite direction, and locking means to secure said slides in their adjusted position, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a closure provided with a fastening-stud, of oppositely-movable superposed slides each extending substantially the wid th of the closure, means whereby the movement of one slide will actuate the other slide in the opposite direction, and look ing means adapted to engage a locking-stud carried by the closure, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a closure provided With a fastening-stud, of oppositely-movable superposed slides each extending substantially the width of the closure, and means located within an aperture formed in said slides whereby the movement of one slide Will actuate the other slide, substantially as specified.

5. The combination with a closure provided with a fastening-stud, of oppositely-movable superposed slides each extending substantially the Width of the closure and provided with rack-bars, and a cog adapted to engage said rack-bars, substantially as specified.

6. The combination with a closure provided with a fastening-stud, of oppositely-movable superposed slides each extending substantially the width of the closure and provided with apertures therein rack-bars located upon opposite sides of said apertures, and a cog lying within the apertures and in engagement with said rack-b'ars,substantially as specified.

7. The combination with a closure provided with a fastening-stud, of oppositely-movable superposed slides each extending substantially the width of the closure and provided with apertures therein,rack-bars located upon opposite sides of said apertures, a cog within the apertures and in engagement with said rack-bars, and a cover-plate located on the outer face of one ofsaid slides to protect said rack and cog, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with a closure provided with a headed fastening-stud, of oppositelymovable superposed slides extending substantially the width of a flexible flap and provided with keyhole-slots,the enlarged ends of which are oppositely arranged, and means for moving one of said slides by the movement of the other slide, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with a closure provided with a headed fastening-stud, of oppositelymovable superposed slides extending substantially the width of a flexible flap and provided with keyhole-slots,the enlarged ends of which are oppositely arranged, means for moving one of said slides by the movement of the other slide, and clips secured to said flap and embracing said slides, substantially as specified.

10. The combination with a closure provided with a fastening-stud, of oppositelymovable superposed slides each extending substantially the width of the closure, means whereby the movement of one slide will actuate the other slide in the opposite direction, and a lock-casing provided with an aperture to permit inspection of a label, substantially as specified.

11. The combination with a closure provided With a fastening-stud, of oppositelymovable superposed slides each extending substantially the width of the closure and provided with apertures, rack-bars located upon the opposite edges of said apertures, a stud extending from said closure, and a cog- Wheel journaled upon said stud, substantially as specified.

12. The combination with a closure provided with a headed fastening-stud, of a flap provided with oppositely-movable superposed slides each extending substantially the Width of the closure and having therein keyhole slots and apertures, rack-bars upon the opposite sides of said apertures, a cog located within said apertures and in engagement with said rack, retaining-clips secured to the flap and embracing said slides, a. look carried by one of said slides and adapted to engage a locking-stud secured upon the bag and extending through the flap thereof, and a projection from the lower slide adapted to lie Within an elongated aperture upon the upper slide, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN A. SCHREINER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM D. Gooen, FRANK W. BRANIFF. 

